Celtic v Hibernian Preview

By: Matt | August 29th, 2009

While Hibs have come into the match red-hot (though I don’t know if they’d ever compared to any shade of Red, being to close to anything Hearts related), winning their first two matches of the season and having a goal differential of 3 so far. Easter Road has always proven a tough place to play, seeing Hibs victories over Rangers and Celtic at the end of the season last year. Hibs will be a good test for Celtic and Tony Mowbray to see just where they stand in the SPL, however Celtic will be a bit lucky with Hibs coming in with some injury and suspension concerns. Hibernian goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay is a doubt tomorrow after picking up an injury to his hip. Kevin McCann, Merouane Zemmama and Jonatan Johansson could miss the match as well, are short of match fitness. Ian Murray will not be on the field either for Hibs, as he serves the final match of his suspension.

Meanwhile, Celtic will see the return of both captain Stephen McManus and midfielder Landry N’Guemo. McManus has finally recovered from his off-season knee surgery and will be in the squad tomorrow, though Tony Mowbray has remarked that McManus is not a definite starter. N’Guemo has returned from his UEFA suspension and rest from Tony Mowbray. Since Massimo Donati is on his way to Bari, N’Guemo is sure to be in the line up tomorrow. Of course, Tony Mowbray is returning to Easter Road for the first time as an opponent rather than as a part of Hibs, after spending two and a half years there as the head coach.

The squads:
Celtic (from): Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, N’Guemo, Loovens, Daniel Fox, McCourt, Scott Brown, McDonald, Maloney, McGeady, Samaras, Fortune, Zaluska, Naylor, Flood, O’Dea, Caddis.

Hibernian (from): Ma-Kalambay, Bamba, Hogg, Hanlon, McCormack, Van Zanten, Stevenson, Thicot, McBride, Galbraith, Wotherspoon, Rankin, Cregg, Riordan, Nish, Benjelloun, Byrne, Stack, Stokes, McCann, Zemmama.